County matters may go online

Applications for building permits and marriage licenses, zoning maps, meeting agendas and staff reports would be available online even when offices are closed.

These are among services being considered for a county Web site, now in the early planning stages.

Tuolumne is one of four counties in the state without a World Wide Web address. The other three are Modoc, Mono and Tehama counties.

A committee is now working on a countys Web site and wants to know what information and services residents would like it to have.

Residents may fill out a survey that will be posted on the Internet at www.mymotherlode.com from Sunday, Feb. 17, through Saturday, Feb. 23.

It looks like the time is right to do this. There is a lot of demand, said committee member Greg Hurt, county database administrator and a former county supervisor.

County Administrator C. Brent Wallace said he wants an open system that is useful to our residents.

The Web site could even allow for online payment of property taxes and other fees, he said.

Clerk and Auditor-Controller Tim Johnson said the Web site could include polling places, sample ballots for elections and the state voters guide as well as applications for fictitious business names and marriage licenses that could be printed, filled out and brought in.

The Community Development Department has a lot of information and applications that also could be put on the Web site, said department head Bev Shane.

Some information and permit applications are already accessible on the Economic Development Co. of Tuolumne Countys Web site at www.hereforbusiness.com. And the countys General Plan is available through a link on the states Web site at www.ceres.ca.gov/planning/counties/Tuolumne/plans.html.